Harvest-Aid Efficiency in Guar (Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.) in the Texas Plains
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Harvest-aid Efficiency in Guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.) in the Texas Plains by Jonathan Shockey BS A Thesis In Plant and Soil Sciences Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Texas Tech University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTERS OF SCIENCE Approved Dr. Peter Dotray Chair of Committee Dr. Calvin Trostle Dr. Noureddine Abidi Mark Sheridan Dean of the Graduate School December, 2016 Copyright 2016, Jonathan Shockey Texas Tech University, Jonathan Shockey, December 2016 Acknowledgements I would like to thank Dr. Calvin Trostle and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension for not only his guidance during this research and for allowing me the time away from my assigned duties to complete these experiments; but also for providing the funding to get it accomplished. Under his direction I learned many things about agricultural research that I will carry with me throughout my career. I would also like to thank Dr. Peter Dotray for his advice and direction both as committee co-chairman and as an instructor for modes and mechanisms of herbicides. Rounding out my committee I would like to thank Dr. Noureddine Abidi for his expert advice in all potential biopolymer aspects of this study, and patient instruction during his biopolymers and bioproducts course. Additionally, I would like to thank Ray White for his assistance in conducting spray applications, harvesting, and other data collection, his time and dedication to this research was without question a major contribution to its completion. I would also like to thank Dr. Katie Lewis for her expert assistance with SAS and other software questions. Likewise, I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the producers and research colleagues who allowed me to invade their fields to conduct my research. This list includes Dr. Paul Delane, Clint White, Curtis Erickson, Will Cozart, and Donald Kirksy. I would also like to thank Dr. Lewis Norman of United Guar LLC, and Alex Muraviyov of Guar Resources LLC for technical guidance from the guar industry. Last but not least, I would like to thank my family for their love, support, and patience through this long process. The most patient of all, my loving wife Emily, son Paxton, and daughter Maddison, I did this for you, thank you. ii Texas Tech University, Jonathan Shockey, December 2016 Table of Contents Acknowledgements………………………………………………………………………ii Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………..iv List of Tables...…………………………………………………………………………..vi List of Figures…………………………………………………………………………..vii I. Introduction……………………………………………………………………………1 II. Literature Review…………………………………………………………………….5 2.1 Guar Production……………………………………………………………….5 2.2 Harvest Aid Chemicals………………………………………………………11 2.3 Guar seed and Gum…………………………………………………………..16 III. Materials and Methods…………………………………………………………….20 3.1 Harvest Aid Efficiency………………………………………………………24 3.2 Harvest Aid Timing………………………………………………….............25 3.3 Black Seed Measurements…………………………………………………..26 IV. Results and Discussion……………………………………………………………..27 4.1 Harvest Aid Efficiency………………………………………………………27 4.2 Harvest Aid Timing………………………………………………………….38 4.2.1 Early Application Results……………………………………………...38 4.2.2 Optimal Application Results.…………………………………………..46 4.3 Black Seed Results…..…………………………………………………...56 V. Summary and Conclusions………………………………………………………....59 Bibliography…………………………………………………………………………….61 iii Texas Tech University, Jonathan Shockey, December 2016 Abstract The regions known as the Texas High and Rolling Plains are considered arid or semi-arid climates. These regions receive less than 25 cm, and 25 to 50 cm of rainfall annually. However, despite these climatic disadvantages the large portions of arable lands in these regions are put to use in crop production. The major crops of these regions are cotton (Gossipium hirsutum (L.)), wheat (Triticum aestivum (L.)), irrigated peanuts (Arachis hypogeae (L.)), irrigated corn (Zea maizes (L.)), and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.)) as well as many other lesser grown alternative crops. Due to current climatic changes as well as depletion of ground water producers have begun to alter traditional farming practices by adopting new practices such as cover cropping, no-till farming, and crop rotation with more drought tolerant crops to maintain profitability and sustainability. Some producers are turning to guar, Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub., as a crop to be placed in a rotation with less water efficient crops as well as a catch crop after a failed first crop. Although guar is a drought tolerant legume, production is not without obstacles. Guar has an indeterminate grow habit and the stem tends to remain moist well after a hard freeze, lengthening the time harvestable yield is left in the field to weather and diminish in both quality and quantity. The use of herbicides known as harvest aids has the potential to alleviate some of these issues by artificially drying the crop earlier than would be possible by natural means. Two different trials were conducted to determine the efficacy of seven commercial harvest aids in guar and to determine proper timing of application of these harvest aids. Herbicidal activity of these chemicals was evaluated at 0, 7, 14, and 28 days iv Texas Tech University, Jonathan Shockey, December 2016 post treatment by rating treated plots for color change, percent green pods remaining, percent terminal growth remaining, and the occurrence of regrowth. In addition to activity ratings yield and weathered seed measurements were also collected. v Texas Tech University, Jonathan Shockey, December 2016 List of Tables 2.1.1 Seasonal averages for temperature and precipitation for the Texas High Plains……………………………………………………………………………..10 2.1.2 Seasonal averages for temperature and precipitation for the Texas Rolling Plains……………………………………………………………………………..11 2.2.1 General information for herbicides evaluated.…………….……………………..14 3.1 Agronomic data for each trial ……………………………….………..…………21 3.2 Whole Plant Color Ratings....………………………………...………………….22 3.3 Regrowth Ratings……...………...….……………………………………………23 3.1.1 Harvest aid suggested and applied rates for guar……,…………………………..24 4.1.1 Average Color Ratings…..…………………... ………………………………….29 4.1.2 Average Green Pod Percent...………….………………………………………...31 4.1.3 Average Percent Terminal Growth..……………………………………………..33 4.1.4 Average Regrowth Ratings....……………………………………………………35 4.1.5 Average Bushel Weight and Average kg per Hectare...………………………....37 4.2.1.1 Average Color Ratings for Early Applications…………………………………..39 4.2.1.2 Average Green Pod Percent for Early Applications.........................................….42 4.2.1.3 Average Percent Terminal Growth for Early Applications……………………...44 4.2.1.4 Average Regrowth Ratings for Early Applications………..………...…………..45 4.2.2.1 Average Color Ratings for Optimal Applications…………………..…………...48 4.2.2.2 Average Green Pod Percent for Optimal Applications………………………......50 4.2.2.3 Average Percent Terminal Growth for Optimal Applications…………………...52 4.2.2.4 Average Regrowth Ratings for Optimal Applications…………………………...54 4.2.2.5 Average Bushel Weight and Average kg per Hectare for Timing Applications...55 4.3.1 Average Black Seed Percentages for Efficacy Trials……………………………56 4.3.2 Average Black Seed Percentages for Timing Trials………….………………….57 vi Texas Tech University, Jonathan Shockey, December 2016 List of Figures 3.1 Examples of color difference between the untreated control and the active ingredient paraquat at 7 days post application...…………………………………23 4.1.1 Average Color Ratings.…………………………………………………………..29 4.1.2 Average Green Pod Percent…………………..………………………………….32 4.1.3 Average Terminal Growth Percent...…………………………………………….34 4.1.4 Average Regrowth Ratings……………………………………………...……….36 4.1.5 Average Bushel Weight and kg per Hectare……………………………………..37 4.2.1.1 Average Color Ratings for Early Applications…………………...……………...40 4.2.1.2 Average Green Pod Percent for Early Applications……………………………..42 4.2.1.3 Average Terminal Percent for Early Applications……………………………….44 4.2.1.4 Average Regrowth Ratings for Early Applications……………………………...46 4.2.2.1 Average Color Ratings for Optimal Applications……………………………….48 4.2.2.2 Average Green Pod Percent for Optimal Applications………………………….50 4.2.2.3 Average Terminal Percent for Optimal Applications……………………………52 4.2.2.4 Average Regrowth Ratings for Optimal Applications…………………………...54 4.2.2.5 Average Bushel Weight and kg per Hectare for Timing Applications…………..55 4.3.1 Average Black Seed Percent for Efficacy Trials…...……………………………56 4.3.2 Average Black Seed Percent for Timing Trials……………………..…………...57 vii Texas Tech University, Jonathan Shockey, December 2016 Chapter I Introduction Guar, or clusterbean, is an annual legume grown in the semi-arid regions of India, Pakistan, and the American southwest. It is grown as green manure, animal fodder, as a green vegetable, and for the galactomannan (GM) content of the seeds, known as guar gum (Pathak, 2015). Guar was first introduced to the United States in 1903, mainly for use as a soil-building legume and emergency cattle grazing crop that was well suited to the arid climates of the Southwest (Whistler & Hymowitz, 1979). However, it was not until World War II, when locust bean gum, used as a binder in the paper industry, became scarce that guar was investigated for potential industrial uses, and this has been the crop’s major area of contribution ever since (Whistler & Hymowitz, 1979). Since then the major United States production area is a region encompassing southwestern Oklahoma and central